A PENSIONER has been arrested after 27 cars parked near a Metro station were vandalised.

The 70-year-old man has been questioned by police after the spate of attacks on vehicles parked in streets surrounding Seaburn Metro station during the last few months.

Officers launched an investigation into the vandalism spree after receiving reports of parked cars being scratched.

They arrested the pensioner and he has been released on police bail pending further inquiries.

Neighbourhood Inspector Tony Carty, who covers the area, said, “Criminal damage, such as scratching a car, may seem like a low-level offence but it can be a huge inconvenience and cause car owners extra cost to have their car fixed.

“Not only that, it disproportionately raises the fear of being a victim of crime for people.”

In March, residents complained in the Echo about parked cars clogging up their streets.

Those living in Alston Crescent, Coniston Avenue, Cairns Road and Kirkstone Avenue claimed they bore the brunt of the problem. They said motorists were taking up visitor spaces, parking across driveways and blocking access for buses.

A survey of Fulwell residents also saw parking top the list of the area’s problems.

After hearing about the vandalism, one Alston Crescent mum, who didn’t wish to be named, said: “You can never get parked in front of your own house. People do phone the police about it.

“People just park their cars outside our houses then go away on holiday so I can understand that someone would be driven to this.”